West Ham United v Manchester United - in pictures

Sir Alex Ferguson takes his place in the directors' box next to his chief executive David Gill. Ferguson is wearing an ear-piece to keep in contact with the United bench as he is banned from the touchline Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

The teams enter the pitch to be met by a cascade of bubbles Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Just 8 minutes in Patrice Evra gets in a bit of a dither and handles the ball while attempting to prevent Carlton Cole from controlling the ball and getting a shot off. Mark Noble dispatches the ball with aplomb sending Tomasz Kuszczak the wrong way, and slots the ball into the bottom left-hand corner Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Chris Smalling feels the full force of Mark Noble's challenge Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Chris Smalling seems to have recovered from Noble's challenge as he climbs highest to beat Carlton Cole Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Just over half-way through the first half West Ham go two up, after Nemanja Vidic trips Carlton Cole right on the edge of the penalty area and the referee points to the spot. Noble steps up again and fires home another beauty, blasting the ball into the top right-hand corner Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Nemanja Vidic pleads his innocence as the referee Lee Mason gets out a yellow card after the United defender pulled back Demba Ba. He should count himself lucky it's not red as he got himself in a horrible tangle while trying to help a long punt back to his goalkeeper, before dragging down Ba, who would have been clean through on goal Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

With his team 2-0 down, Fergie looks to be asking for assistance from a higher authority Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Demba Ba is fouled again by Nemanja Vidic Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Rooney appeals as he is grabbed by the neck by Gary O'Neill, but the West Ham fans don't seem too agree with him Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Some sterling defensive work as Manuel Da Costa gets in front of Nemanja Vidic at a United corner Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

It seems like Ferguson's prayers have been answered just when Mark Noble concedes a free-kick a couple of yards outside his own penalty area for a mistimed tackle on Carrick. Wayne Rooney steps up and bends a free-kick round the West Ham wall and into the net Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Just seven minutes later United are level courtesy of a marvellous goal from Rooney. Marked by two defenders as he stands with his back to goal on the edge of the penalty area , he takes both out with his first touch as he controls a low cross from the right from Giggs, before turning and rifling a low, diagonal drive into the bottom right-hand corner Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Then just six minutes later things go from bad to worse for West Ham when Fábio Da Silva kicks the ball against Matthew Upson's outstretched arm and Lee Mason points to the spot Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Rooney steps up and slots the ball into the bottom right-hand corner, sending Rob Green the wrong way. That's his hat-trick Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

However United aren't finished there and continue pressing. With 7 minutes to go Javier Hernández makes it 4-2 to Man United. The United substitute pokes the ball into an empty net from three yards out after a low diagonal cross from Giggs on the left nutmegs Matthew Upson Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

Hat-trick hero and potty mouth Wayne Rooney kisses the match-ball. Rooney later apologised for the four-lettered celebration down the lens of a TV camera that followed his third Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer

A glum Avram Grant wonders what might have been Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer